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Absorption

Prepared by Dr.Nagwa El-Mansy


Cairo University
Faculty of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department
Forth year
:-References
Coluson and Richerdson, Chemical Engineering vol , vol II ,-1
.vol III
.Geancoplis, Principles of Unit Operation- 2
Mc-Cabe and Smith, Unit operations for Chemical- 3
.Engineering
.Traybal, Mass Transfer Operations- 4
.Sherwood, Mass Transfer- 5
.Perrys , Chemical Engineering-6
.Separation Process Principles, 2nd ed, Seader etal- 7
.Site on Google search, Separation Processes- 8
Absorption
:-Absorption
It is a gas-liquid mass transfer operation in which liquid
solvent is contacted with gas mixture for differential
dissolution of one or more components of gas and
.provide a solution of them in liquid
:-Uses of absorption
.Purification of gases (HS from HCs)- 1
Separation of gases (separation of dry gas [C,C] -2
.from LNG [C,C]
:-Production of useful liquid product- 3
HCL (g) + HO (liq) HCL (liq)
2NO(g) + HO (liq) HNO + HNO2
SO (g) + HO (liq) HSO
:Applications of absorption
Hydrogen sulfide(H2S) is removed from hydrocarbon gases by- 1
washing with alkaline solution (Amines).
2- Washing ethanol vapors from carbon dioxide from molasses
fermentor tanks with water to remove ethanol.
3- Acetone can be recovered from acetone-air mixture by passing
the gas stream into water in which acetone is dissolved while air is
.passed out
Carbon dioxide present in air is absorbed by sodium hydroxide-4
.(NaOH solution) in which chemical absorption takes place
. Nitrogen oxides are absorbed in water to give nitric acid- 5
Removal of ammonia coming from coke ovens by water- 6
Choice Of Solvent For Gas Absorption
The factors to be considered are
High absorption power
Which means that gas solubility should be high in the
solvent, which results in increasing the rate of
absorption and decreasing the quantity of solvent
. required
Highly Selective
The selectivity of solvent must be high in which solvent
.dissolve one and leave the others
Easy to recover
. Which means easily to be regenerated
Low volatility
The solvent should have a low vapor pressure to
reduce loss of solvent in the gas leaving the
absorption column.
Small viscosity
Low viscosity is preferred for reasons of rapid
absorption rates, improving flooding characteristics
in packed column, low pressure drops on pumping
and good heat transfer characteristics.
Cost
The solvent should be inexpensive, so that losses
are not costly, and should be readily available.
Other properties
Non-toxic, Non-flammable, Non-corrosive,
Chemically stable, low freezing point
Absorption Equipments
(A) Plate Towers:-
1-Multistage contact.
2-High separation , high capacity.
3-Relatively large diameter.
4-Cooling is done by
providing the plate
with cooling coils.
5- High pressure drop.
6- Easy to be clean.
(B) Packed Columns
1-Differential contact.
2-Used for highly
corrosive materials.
3- Small diameters <70-80 cm
4-Not easy to clean.
5-Packing materials are
made from(ceramics ,
bricks, wood, gravels,
stones , steel ,)
To increase surface area of contact between the two phases in-6
packed columns, make more than one section which increase
the performance of
. the tower
cooling is done by dividing- 7
the column
To many sections
out side the column
as seen in the opposite)
(. Figure
(C) Spray Column:-
1- Continuous contact.
2- Low pressure drop.
3- Low efficiency.
4- Low cost(empty).
5- Gas phase controlling.
6- Considered as one stage.
:-Wetted wall Column( D)
Single tube wetted wall column used
in labs for measuring mass transfer
.coefficient
:-Tubular Reactor( E)

used for highly- 1


.exothermic reactions
for highly heats of-2
.reactions
proper for heat- 3
.transfer control
low mass transfer- 4
due to small surface
.area of contact
:-U-Tube Absorber( F)
Specially for highly corrosive- 1
materials(HCL)
Small surface area of contact- 2
.between two phases
.Simple in construction-4
Use any material of-5
construction( ceramic, cast iron,
silicon,)to over come
.corrosion problems
Very difficult in casting and-6
.welding
Centrifugal type of(G)
-:absorption

.Single stage absorber- 1


Co-current contact-2
Used for highly viscous-3
.liquids
.Used for foamy liquids-4
Liquids are sprayed by-5
.centrifugal force
Provied good contact-6
.between two phases
Operating and initial cost-7
.are very high
Equilibrium Relations:-
Mass transfer between G/L depends
highly on the equilibrium between
G/L. Different gases and liquids yield
separate solubility curves , which
must be determined experimentally
for each system. If the equilibrium
pressure of a gas at a given liquid
concentration is high, as case (A) in
the opposite figure, the gas is said to
be relatively insoluble in liquid ,
while if its low, as for curve (B) , the
solubility is said to be high.
Effect of temperature on the
:-equilibrium curve
The solubility of any gas is
influenced by the temperature. If
the temperature of the system at
equilibrium is raised , the solubility
of a gas decreases . As shown in
the opposite figure as temperature
increases for the same solute (gas)
the solubility decreases from (10-
60)oC and the absorption power
.decreases
Absorption process is usually
accompanied by evolution of heat.
Effect of temperature on the equilibrium curve
So It is necessary to fit coolers to
the absorber to keep its
.temperature sufficiently low
Types of Equilibrium Relations :-
For dilute concentrations of many
gases the equilibrium relationship is
given by Henrys law which relates
the partial pressure developed by a
dissolved solute(A) in a liquid solvent
(S) by the following equation:-
PA = H xA

Where:-
H is Henrys constant expressed as
kPa / mole fraction solute in liquid,
PA is the partial pressure of solute in
kPa,
xA is the mole fraction of the gas in
liquid phase
Henrys law holds very well when the
partial pressure of the solute is less
than atmospheric. Above
atmospheric pressure , H may be
.independent of the partial pressure
The variation of H with temperature is
.strongly nonlinear function
:-For ideal systems Raoults law is valid
PA = PoA xA
Where
.PA , is the partial pressure of solute
.PoA , is the vapor pressure of solute
xA , is the mole fraction of the solute in
.the liquid phase
Q PA = H A x A
PA HA x A
= (by dividing each tearm by PT )
PT PT
y A = m* x A (where x A andy A are mole fractions)

Conversion from mole fraction to mole ratio:-


nA
mole fraction of A in gas phase y A = ,
nA + nB
nA
mole fraction of A in liquid phase x A =
n A + nS
nA
mole ratio of A in gas phase y A = ,
nB
nA
mole ratio of A in liquid phase x A =
nS
Q PA = H A x A
nA m* n A
=
nA + nB n A + nS
n A /n B m*n A /n S
=
n A /n B +n B /n B n A /n S +n S /n S
YA m* X A
=
YA +1 X A +1
YA m*X A
=
YA +1-YA X A +1- m*X A
m*X A
\ YA =
X A +1- m*X A
or
m*X A
YA = (an equilibrium relation at certain temperature and pressure)
X A (1- m*)+1
:-Factors affecting absorption process
:-A- Choice of solvent flow rate
:-Usually given
.gas flow rate(Gin)- 1
.feed composition(yin)- 2
.solvent composition( xin )-3
degree of separation= sharpness of-4
.separation
recovery= (Yin Yout )/ Yin
in which we can calculate the outlet gas
.composition
Yout = Yin (1 recovery)
Here we want to calculate proper
solvent rate(Lin)
By using mole or mass ratios we must remove the amounts of
:-solute from gas and liquid flow rates as flows
Ginert = G = G in ( 1 yin) . Where yin is feed mole fraction
L inert = L = L in ( 1 x in). Where xin is solvent mole fraction
:By making material balance on the absorber
G Yin + L Xin = G Yout + L Xout

G ( Yin Yout ) = L ( Xout Xin)

L / G = (Yin Yout) / (Xout Xin) [ Operating line equation]

Operating line is a line between two points (Xin,Yout) and


and has a slope - L/G( Xout, Yin)
As the amount of solvent decreases (L) the slope of the operating
.line decreases and goes down and the number of stages increases
:- The effect liquid amount on the number of stages
As the amount of liquid solvent decreases the driving force
decreases and the number of stages increases thus the tower
cost increases till operating line cuts or touch the equilibrium
curve at this point we reach pinch point which means no
.separation
But if we increase the amount
of liquid solvent ,the slope of
the operating line goes up
and the driving force
increases which means small
number of stages is
required( also small number
of transfer units). This
means that we must make
optimization for liquid
amount as shown in the
.opposite figure
We have to use L/G > ( L/G)Min
Opt =[ 1.2 to 2.5 ] (L/G) Min( L/G)
:-Temperature(B)
In general absorption process
is an exothermic process , it
improves by lowering
temperature. Thus we make
good cooling for liquid
solvent before entering the
column. Increasing
:-temperature results in
equilibrium curve goes up- 1
and absorption power
.decreases
Notice that for the same Y the
separation increases with
decreasing temperature as
shown in the opposite
.Figure
X3 < X2 < X1
For same (L/G), Number of stages (or NTU) increases , means -2
.tall column and high cost ,which is bad conditions
for same(L/G) , driving force decreases and separation-3
becomes difficult ,which is a bad conditions
In some cases even refrigeration is
economic, this happen when
losses in solvent is high ( to
.minimize losses = economic)
Some times average slight
increase in temperature is
permissible and have +ve effect
:-when
.Solvent has high viscosity- 1
Case of chemical reaction, in- 2
which rate of absorption is
affected positively by increasing
.temperature
The highest temperature (T Max)
in the absorber can be found at
.the bottom of the column
:-Pressure(C)

As pressure increases absorption


power increases
PA = HA xA( Henrys law)
PA / PT = (HA / PT) xA
y A = m* xA

-:Increasing pressure results in


the equilibrium curve goes down- 1
which improves the absorption
.process
Notice that for the same (Y) the
separation increases with
increasing pressure as shown in
the opposite figure
X3 < X2 < X1
For same (L/G), Number of stages (or NTU) decreases ,means-2
short column and low cost which is good conditions
Driving force increases and separation becomes more easier-3
.which means good separation
:-Physical vs chemical absorption
There are 2 types of absorption processes: physical absorption and
chemical absorption, depending on whether there is any chemical
.reaction between the solute and the solvent (absorbent)
When water and hydrocarbon oils are used as absorbents, no
significant chemical reactions occur between the absorbent and
the solute, and the process is commonly referred to as physical
. absorption
When aqueous sodium hydroxide (a strong base) is used as the
absorbent to dissolve an acid gas, absorption is accompanied by
a rapid and irreversible neutralization reaction in the liquid
phase and the process is referred to as chemical absorption or
. reactive absorption
More complex examples of chemical absorption are processes
for absorbing CO2 and H2S with aqueous solution of mono
-ethanolamine (MEA), di -ethanolamine (DEA), di-
ethyleneglycol (DEG) or tri-ethyleneglycol (TEG), where a
reversible chemical reaction takes place in the liquid phase.
:-Chemical reactions can increase
.the rate of absorption- 1
.increase the absorption capacity of the solvent- 2
increase selectivity to a certain components of the gas, and-3
. convert a hazardous chemical to a safe compound
:-Physical absorption
:-Chemical absorption
A solute of gas (A) is absorbed from a mixture by solvent liquid(B),
which combines with (A) according to the equation A + B AB.
As the gas approaches the liquid interface, it dissolves and
reacts at once with (B). The new product(AB),thus formed ,
.diffuses towards the main body of the liquid
The concentration of (B) at the interface falls; this results in
diffusion of (B) from the bulk of the liquid phase to the
interface. Since the chemical reaction is rapid,(B) is removed
very quickly, so that it is necessary for the gas (A) to diffuse
through part of the liquid film before meeting (B). There is a
zone of reaction between A and B which moves away from the
gas-liquid interface. The final position of this reaction zone will
be such that the rate of diffusion of (A) from the gas-liquid
interface is equal to the rate of diffusion of (B) from the main
.body of the liquid
Eight distinct kinetic regimes are observed. For instantaneous ,
reaction or for rapid chemical reaction, the reaction occurs only in
liquid film during the transportation of component(A). The
concentration of (A) in the bulk of the liquid is zero(rate of reaction
of A ((rA)=0), such as absorption of acid gas. These reactions are
:-characterized by Hatta number (Ha)
Ha = max possible conversion in liquid film/max diffusion transport through the liquid film
.3 where:- K = the reaction constant (< K CBo 2L /DA = )
CBo = liquid concentration
2L = liquid film thickness
DA = diffusivity of solute A
At the other extreme, for very slow chemical processes occurs in the
liquid bulk no reaction occurs in the film and mass transfer is used
to keep the bulk concentration of component (A) close to the
saturation value ( CA = CA*). These reactions are characterized by
.Ha<< 1 such as oxidation, hydrogenation
.Notice that chemical reaction affect the equilibrium curve
:-Effect of temperature on the absorption tower
Many absorbers and strippers deal with dilute gas mixtures and
liquids, in these cases its assumed that the operation is
isothermal. But actually absorption operations are usually
exothermic, and when large quantities of solute gas are
absorbed to form concentrated solutions, the temperature
effects cannot be ignored. If by absorption the temperature of
the liquid is raised to a considerable extent, the equilibrium
solubility of the solute will be appreciably reduced. Cooling
.must be done to over come the increase in liquid temperature
Consider the tray tower shown in the figure. If Qc is the heat
.removed per unit time from the tower by any means
:- Enthalpy balance
:-For non-adiabatic operation
.G ( Yin Yout) q = L cp ( Tout - Tin ) + Qc
.For adiabatic operation
G (Yin Yout) q = L cp (Tout -Tin )
.Cp = specific heat for pure liquid
.q = heat of absorption (J/mole)

By studying the adiabatic operation there


will be some assumptions must be
:-considered
,No heat is removed inside the tower-1
.Qc= zero
All the amount of heat due to absorption-2
.increase the liquid temperature only
No evaporation in the liquid solvent-3
(.no losses)
To estimate the temperatures inside the
absorber, the heat balance equation to
compute the temperature of the liquid
leaving each plate from the top to the
:-bottom ,is as shown in the opposite figure
:-Section (1)
L ( X1 - Xin) q = L Cpliq (Tout 1 -Tin )
X1 Xin = [Cp liq /q ] ( Tout 1 - Tin )
:-Section (2)
L ( X2 Xin ) q = L Cp liq ( Tout 2 T in )
X2 X in = [Cp liq / q] ( Tout 2 T in )
After calculating X1 , X2 , X3 ,., we must
plot new equilibrium curve differ than
.the case of isothermal absorption
:-Multi- component absorption
:-Graphical method( A)
The procedures for multicomponent absorption are identical for
binary mixtures. Instead of having a single equilibrium curve and
operating line, there are now an equilibrium curve and operating
line for each absorbed component of the gas. Gas flow rate(G)
and liquid flow rate(L) are approximately constant through the
column. The operating line is located with the point (xin,yout)
and the slope (L/G) for the key component(the component which
has more data), and because the feed composition is known we
can locate the terminal point of the operating line (xout,yin). Now
the number of stages required for specified recovery can be
determined by stepping-off stages from the other end . Exactly
the same number of stages are available for the other
components. Also the operating lines must have the same slope.
.Thus we can calculate the recovery for each entering component
Equilibrium relations may be based on the mole fraction
:-Analytical method( B)
Kremser equation represents an
analytical solution to a classical
separation problem of N ideal
equilibrium stages concerned with
countercurrent gas and liquid flow.
The equilibrium and operating
.relations are assumed to be linear
By using the data of the key
component and by calculating the
absorption factor (A=L/m*G) we can
calculate number of stages from the
following chart. After calculating N
we can calculate the recovery for
.each other component
:-Stripping (desorption)
Stripping is the opposite of
absorption and involves the
removal of dissolved gases in
.liquid by stripping agent
-:Purpose of stripping
.recover the dissolved solute- 1
.recover the solvent- 2
to recover both solute and-3
.solvent
Usually absorption is followed
. by stripping or desorption
The most commonly used
.stripping agent is steam
:-Good stripping agent must be
.easily condensed- 1
.easily separated from the material stripped- 2
:-Equilibrium relations
(As absorption)
The following points must be
:- taken into consideration
Operating line is under the-1
.equilibrium curve
slope of the operating line- 2
L/G= (Yin-Yout / Xout-Xin )=
As (L/G) decreases, G- 3
increases , operating line
goes down, driving force
increases, N decreases and
.NTU decreases
As (L/G) increases, G -4
decreases, operating line
goes up, driving force
decreases, N increases and
NTU increases, till we reach
.pinch point
:-Special types of absorbers
Absorber with reboiler( 1)
(combined absorber/stripper)
When wet gas( C2H6/ C3H8/C4 H10) is
contacted with oil solvent it
.dissolve small amount of C2H6
C2H6 can be concentrated in the gas
stream leaving the column by
heating the rich liquid oil stream to
.strip out C2H6
Absorption with two(2)
solvents
Recovery of highly volatile solvent
.e.g. recovery of C5 from C3 and C4
Solvent should have low vapor
pressure to minimize losses in its
amount. A second less volatile
solvent (Kerosene)can be used to
recover the evaporated portion
.of the first solvent (Benzene)

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